Grant Nelson injury update: Alabama star's status revealed for Florida game

Grant Nelson was the latest Alabama player to pop up on the injury report on Tuesday. Originally listed as questionable, Nelson’s status was going to be something to watch. A final determination has been made just ahead of tip-off against Florida and it’s positive news for Crimson Tide fans.

Alabama has removed Nelson from the availability report and he is set to play. A massive boost for Nate Oats heading into the final home game of the regular season. Senior Night will take place in Coleman Coliseum afterward as well where Nelson will be honored.

This has not been the best stretch of games for Nelson. His production has been low while struggling to play like his normal sense on the defensive end. Heading into the Tennessee game, Oats admitted Nelson does need to regain some of his health to be a better overall player.

“I think we’re starting to see him get healthier, get more explosive,” Oats said on Friday. “He’s gotta get downhill to the rim. The dunk he has against Mississippi State where some teams kind of over-help off of him and he can kind of get going on a go-catch, we call it, downhill to the rim. We do need Grant to be a little more aggressive and a little bit more efficient in his minutes.”

Nelson wound up playing 28 minutes against the Vols but finished with just seven points. It’s the fourth game in a row he has not broken into double figure scoring, his longest stretch of the season. Snagging 12 rebounds is something Alabama will take every day of the week, though.

Looking at his season averages, Nelson scores 11.8 points, grabs 8.0 rebounds, and dishes 1.7 assists per game.

Alabama entering critical final two-game stretch

No team in college basketball will have a tougher close to the regular season than Alabama. Florida is first up before heading across the state to play Auburn, the No. 1 team in the country. How Alabama finds itself on Selection Sunday very well could be determined by these two games.

One win and the Crimson Tide find themselves back in position to be a one-seed. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi had them there before the Tennessee loss, bumping them down to the two-line instead.

Going 0-2 might make it difficult to get back into the overall top-four, no matter how well the SEC Tournament goes. It’s a critical stretch for Alabama, who needs momentum heading into the postseason.